Electric hand lantern



Feb. l0, 1942. J. r. HELLING ELECTRIC HAND LANTERN Filed June 27, 1959W. TE NH E VE NR lo JB'HN IT-#Eon I FIG. II

FVI'TORN Ey Patented Feb. 10, 1.942

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ELECTRIC HAND LANTERN .lohn Theodore Helling, Auckland Park,Johannesburg, South Africa Application June 27, 1939, Serial No. 281,318In the Union of South Africa June 28, 1938 1 Claim.

This invention relates to electric hand lanterns which depend for theirelectrical energy on accumulators or secondary batteries incorporated inthe lanterns.

It is particularly applicable to lanterns for use in mines and placeswhere they are used regularly; are liable to very rough handling duringservice and are available for charging between service periods.

The object of the invention is to provide a lantern which will be asshock proof as possible and for this purpose there is used in itsconstruction as much rubber as is practicable.

A further object is to provide a lantern of this type in which theaccumulator is well packed to keep it in good condition, reduceevaporation and prevent spillage of the electrolyte.

The special design and construction of the lantern aims at producing arobust, eilicient and economical source of light whilst having the leastpossible weight and capable of being recharged without dismantling anyof its parts.

According to this invention the lantern is as far as possible made of aresilient material, so

that the lantern will rebound from falls or blows and thus avoid damage.Therefore the container for the cells is made of rubber or similarresilient substance which, whilst being an insulator, will resist theelectrolyte and be hard enough to keep its shape. The lamp house, with,if desired the reflector, is also made of resilient material such asrubber, so as to absorb and cushion any shocks and spring back to itsnormal form after encountering any blows. In other words theinventionprovides a lamp which will withstand falls and rough usageincidental to mining, and still retain its efliciency.

A lantern according to this invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing in which- Fig. I is a view of a preferred construction of thelantern, partly in section, and,

Fig. II is a side view of a lantern having an extra reflector.

In the drawing l is the casing of a rubber or similar resilient materialmoulded in one piece so that the casing comprises a boX part 2 and alamp housing and reflector 3.

The chambers 4, in part 2 are provided with a cover 6, of hard rubber orlike material, and in these chambers is built up the electricaccumulators. Any suitable type of accumulator may be used, that is,either the acid or alkali type, but it is essential that the variousparts making up the accumulator be so packed and held in place as toresist shock. In the form illustrated, sponge rubber is used and isshown in the drawing at l. 3 is the dividing wall between chambers 4 and5.

The surface 9 of part 3 acts as a reiiector and its reilecting capacityis increased by spraying or painting the moulded rubber surface. l!! isa transparent cover or lens which may be snapped into place in theannular V-shaped groove Il formed in the rubber moulding. I2 is asupport for the lamp i3 which is connected by wires I4 to the batteryterminals l5 and a switch I6 of any suitable type may be provided.

A handle may be moulded with the rubber casing, but generally it ispreferred to provide a metal cage embodying a carrying handle Il. In theillustration, ll is a bent metal handle secured to a metal cover plateI8 which is provided with a depending tongue I9 forming a hook forfastening the lantern to a belt. 2l! is a stirrup shaped metal strapwith its ends 2| projecting up through slots 22 in the cover i8, leavingprojecting pieces 23 which may be secured in place by bending the metalover the plate I8. If desired the projections 23 may be welded in placeso as to prevent the lamp being opened. 24 are holes in the rubber wallof the container 2, and 25 are metal thimbles forming the chargingterminals for the accumulator and are Xed in the cover 6 and so placedas to be accessible to contact plugs entering through the holes 24 forcharging the accumulator. A hole 26 in cover plate I8 may provide a ventthrough which any gasses from the accumulator can escape. hole v26 islocated over a hole 2l in cover B. Between cover 6 and plate I8 is a padof sponge rubber or other suitable absorbent material which will allowthe passage of gas but will prevent the electrolyte from spilling.

In making use of a lantern according to this invention, particularlywhere it is used as a miners lamp, it is normally housed -on a chargingstand provided with a place for each lantern, which has a power supplyconnection taking the form of projecting terminals carrying the chargingcurrent. Said terminals are adapted to enter holes 24 and makeelectrical contact with Vthe thimbles 25. When required the lantern ispulled oli the terminals and taken from its stand when it should becharged sufficiently to give service for the length of the shift, sayeight hours.

Usually the accumulator will be a normal four volt accumulator and ofsuch size that it will keep a lamp burning for the full shift. O-ncoming 01T shift the lantern is returned to the charg- The ing stand andcharging takes place until the lantern is required for the next shift.

At proper periods a few drops of distilled water or other liquidrequired to make up for loss of the electrolyte is squirted into thecase 2. This is conveniently done by a syringe entering through the hole26 and piercing the pad 28, so that the electrolyte can be introducedinto the accumulator through hole 2l in the cover. The sponge rubberpacking 1 absorbs the electrolyte and will not allow it to spill. Holes26 and 2l are duplicated (not shown) for servicing the secondcompartment of the accumulator.

It will be observed that without cutting or burning away the welds 23 itis impossible to open the accumulator and therefore the lantern is verysuitable for use in coal mines and similar places where there may becombustible gases present in the atmosphere and consequent danger ofexplosion.

When desired, the casing may be made sumciently large to accommodate asecond accumulator, and suitable switches provided to connect one orboth accumulators either in series or parallel with Ithe lamp bulb.

Should a special reflector be desired, for instance to throw aconcentrated beam of light, a special metal or other suitable reflectormay be iitted into the lamp housing and be kept in place and protectedby the cover IU.

In a modied construction, as Shown in Fig. 2, the lantern may have adouble lamp housing 3 one on either side; one of which may be colouredred as a warning signal.

An electric lamp having an accumulator or electric cell and the lamphousing moulded all in one piece, is known, but heretofore the housinghas been made from ceramics, glass or other rigid insulating materialwhich is liable to deformation or breakage if subjected to falls orknocks incidental to mining work.

This invention provides an electric lamp which is entirely resilient sofar as its casing is concerned, and therefore made to withstand falls orknocks. Whilst the lantern is made robust enough to stand rough usage itis kept as light in weight as possible.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by f Letters Patent is:

An electric hand lantern comprising an accumulator casing having cellpartitions and a lamp housing formed with a reiiector surface and arecess for a lens all moulded in one piece of resilient material, saidaccumulator casing having a cover of similar material, passages in thecover to allovl7 the escape of gas, inserted charging contacts allowingcharging of the accumulator whilst sealing the contents againstspilling, a stirrup shaped cradle of rigid material forming a handle forcarrying the lantern and supporting the resilient body of theaccumulator and means for locking the cradle round the body of thelantern to prevent unauthorised access thereto.

JOHN THEODORE HELLING.

